Bottle insert for wide mouth bottle

ABSTRACT

The invention relates a Bottle Insert comprising an insert that (optionally, removably) resides inside the uppermost portion of a wide mouth bottle. The insert is circular in shape and has sidewalls and an integral base portion. The base portion rises in one or more locations to a flat plane located near the top of the circular shape and extending approximately one third of the diameter distance into the circular shape. The raised flat portions comprise one or more cut out areas for the purpose of drinking liquid contained within the bottle. Each such cut out area follows the inner diameter of the circular shape at one edge and following the contour of the rest of the raised portion of the flat area. The lower base portion has one or more drain holes. The insert is constructed of injection molded, food grade plastic.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0001] This invention relates generally to the field of bottle accessories, and more particularly to a bottle Insert to aid in the process of drinking.

[0002] Bottles of various sizes and shapes have been made and sold for many years. In more recent times, campers, hikers, bikers and the like carry bottles filled with water or other liquid with them so they may remain properly hydrated while away from standard sources of water and the like. Although there are many plastic water bottles on the market today, it has become popular with serious campers and the like, to carry water or other liquid in a high quality container such as the wide mouth bottle made by the Nalgene Corp. This bottle is constructed of plastic. It is very resistant to collapse and does not impart an unpleasant taste to the water as is the case of other water bottles that are made of polyethylene or the like. Unfortunately, the wide mouth design of the Nalgene bottle and those like it make it difficult to drink from in that it is easy for excess liquid to bypass the user's mouth and travel down the user's chin. This is particularly true when children try to drink from such a bottle or when the user is in motion.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0003] The primary object of the invention is to provide a way to drink liquid from a bottle having a relatively large diameter at its uppermost lip, better known as a wide mouth bottle, so that the liquid does not accidentally travel past the user's mouth.

[0004] Another object of the invention is to provide a way for either children or adults to comfortably drink from a wide mouth bottle.

[0005] Another object of the invention is to provide a method for excess liquid to drain back into a wide mouth bottle after drinking.

[0006] Other objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following descriptions, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, wherein, by way of illustration and example, an embodiment of the present invention is disclosed.

[0007] The present invention is a bottle insert, comprising: An insert, optionally removable, that can be placed and held in place inside the uppermost portion of a wide mouth bottle. Said insert is substantially circular in shape and has side walls and an integral base portion, said base portion rising in one or more locations to a flat plane located near the top of said substantially circular shape and extending approximately one third of the diameter distance into said circular shape.

[0008] Said raised flat portion has a cut out area, of a semicircular shape suitable for transferring liquid from said bottle into a person's mouth, for the purpose of drinking said liquid without spillage; said cut out area following the inner diameter of said circular shape at one edge and following the contour of the rest of the raised portion of said flat area, said lower base portion having a plurality of drain holes, or alternately, no drain holes. Said insert is closely fitted the portion of the bottle wherein it is placed, such that liquid may not pass between the bottle and the insert except through the cut out areas, or the drain holes.

[0009] Said insert is constructed of a rigid or flexible, solid material, safe for use in a container for liquids suitable and intended for human consumption. Said insert is preferably constructed of injection molded, food grade plastic. Preferably, said insert is comprised of polypropylene and the like, and is optionally colored, by means such as coloration additives.

[0010] Two preferred embodiments of the present invention are presented in the drawings.

[0011] In the first preferred embodiment, the insert has two cut out areas, used for drinking, on opposite sides of the insert. Both said cut outs are in the shape of a half circle. One cut out area is preferably about 1 inch wide at the top edge of the insert, and is suitable for drinking by an adult. The second cutout is preferably about % inch wide at the top edge of the insert, and is suitable for drinking by a child. A plurality of drain holes are present in the base of the insert to allow excess liquid to return to the bottle after drinking.

[0012] In the second preferred embodiment, the insert has a single cut out area, in the shape of a half circle, and used for drinking. Said cut out area is preferably about 1 inch wide at the top edge of the insert, and is suitable for drinking by an adult. At least one drain hole is present in the base of the insert, at the opposite side of said cut out area. Said aperture is shaped in the form of an oval, of about 1 inch in length and ¼ inch in width. This larger aperture allows for faster draining of excess liquid returning to the bottle after drinking. Additionally, said larger aperture allows for filling and refilling the bottle without removal of the insert. The base of the insert in this embodiment is slanted idealy from 5-20° downward from horizontal, toward the aperture, thus further accelerating the rate of draining of liquid back into the bottle.

[0013] In the present invention as described, the bottle insert is held in place by friction. Other means are contemplated for holding said insert in place, for instance by screwing into a threaded bottle mouth, or by using mechanical means such as pins or the like.

[0014] Furthermore, in the present invention, a means to tether the intake to the bottle is also contemplated. Said means may include a simple plastic line tether, a hinge, or the like. Such means do not necessarily hold the insert in place, as do the means described in the prior paragraph. Instead, said tethering means act to keep the intake close to the bottle, such that said intake is not lost or misplaced.

[0015] The drawings constitute a part of this specification and include exemplary embodiments to the invention, which may be embodied in various forms. It is to be understood that in some instances various aspects of the invention may be shown exaggerated or enlarged to facilitate an understanding of the invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0016]FIG. 1 is an exploded view of the the first embodiment of the present invention in conjunction with a wide mouth bottle. This embodiment is hereafter referred to as invention 100, and is identified as item 100 in the drawings.

[0017]FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the present invention 100 in place in a typical wide mouth bottle.

[0018]FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the present invention 100.

[0019]FIG. 4 is a top view of the present invention 100.

[0020]FIG. 5 is a bottom view of the present invention 100.

[0021]FIG. 6 is a side view of the present invention 100, viewed from the side to the right of the major cut out portion 10.

[0022]FIG. 7 is an alternative side view of the present invention 100, viewed from the side to the left of the major cut out portion 10.

[0023]FIG. 8 is a front view of the present invention 100.

[0024]FIG. 9 is an exploded view of the a second embodiment of the present invention in conjunction with a wide mouth bottle. This embodiment is hereafter referred to as invention 200, and is identified as item 200 in the drawings.

[0025]FIG. 10 is a perspective view of the present invention 200 in place in a typical wide mouth bottle.

[0026]FIG. 11 is a perspective view of the present invention 200 from a top view. FIG. 12 is a perspective view of the present invention 200 from a bottom view.

[0027]FIG. 13 is a straight top view of the present invention 200.

[0028]FIG. 14 is a straight bottom view of the present invention 200.

[0029]FIG. 15 is a front view of the present invention 200.

[0030]FIG. 16 is a back view of the present invention 200.

[0031]FIG. 17 is a side view of the present invention 200, the right side view with the major opening in front.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0032] Detailed descriptions of the preferred embodiments are provided herein. It is to be understood, moreover, that the present invention may be embodied in various forms. Therefore, specific details disclosed herein are not to be interpreted as limiting, but rather as a basis for the claims and as representative basis for teaching one skilled in the art to employ the present invention in virtually any appropriately detailed system, structure or manner.

[0033] Referring now to FIG. 1 we see a perspective view of the insert 100 of the first preferred embodiment of the present invention 100, as it is ready to be inserted into the mouth 38 of a typical wide mouth bottle 2 such as one manufactured by Nalgene Corp. The bottle 2 is sold with a mating cap 4 that screws onto threads 6 located on the neck of the bottle. The present invention is designed to be inserted in bottle mouth 38 in a frictional manner that allows the user to remove it when needed but also can remain in place during normal drinking applications. To that end, the insert 100, being substantaially circular in shape, is manufactured to have the same diameter as the inner diameter of the mouth of the wide mouth bottle 2 into which said insert is designed to be placed. A typical inner diameter for the mouth of 2 is approximately 2 inches, or 5.4 centimeters.

[0034]FIG. 2 shows the present invention 100 in place. The lip 24 of the insert 100 rests on top of bottle lip 38.

[0035]FIG. 3 shows a perspective view of the present invention 100. Lip 24 can be clearly seen as well as side wall 14 and base plate 16. Walls 42, 44 rise up from base plate 16 and terminate in a flat area 6, each having a cut out portion designated respectively as 10, 12. The cut out portions 10, 12 are designed to allow liquid to exit from the bottle 2 in a narrower condition than if the insert 100 was not in place. In this way, the user can drink from bottle 2 without having the liquid pour past the user's mouth, as can be the case when the insert of the present invention is not employed.

[0036]FIG. 4 shows a top view of the present invention 100. In this view it can be clearly seen that in the preferred embodiment opening 10 is larger, for adults and opening 12 is smaller, for children. Apertures 18, 20 allow excess liquid to flow back into bottle 2.

[0037]FIG. 5 shows a front view of the present invention 100. Lip 24 can be clearly seen and recessed portion 20 can be seen as the area that liquid can flow up into before exiting opening 10. The sidewalls 14 of insert 100 are generally perpendicular to the top and base.

[0038]FIG. 6 shows a side view where the sidewalls 20, 22 curve inward where openings 10, 12 are located thereby allowing liquid to freely flow up and out of the openings. FIG. 7 is simply the alternate side view, again revealing the steeper incline of recessed front wall 20 as opposed to wall 22.

[0039]FIG. 8 shows a front view of the present invention 100. Lip 24 can be clearly seen and recessed portion 20 can be seen as the area that liquid can flow up into before exiting opening 10.

[0040] Referring now to FIG. 9 we see a perspective view of the insert 200 of the second preferred embodiment of the present invention, as it is ready to be inserted into the mouth 38 of a typical wide mouth bottle 2. FIG. 10 shows the present invention 200 in place. The lip 24 of the insert 100 again rests on top of bottle lip 38.

[0041]FIG. 11 demonstrates a perspective view of the insert 200 comprising a second preferred embodiment of the present invention. From this view, the substantially circular shape of this embodiment can be observed. The inner sidewalls of the invention slope gently inward from the open top 24 to the floor 16. In contrast, the outer wall 50 is substantially straight and vertical along the sides and back of the insert, along its upper half, then sloping inward along its lower half. Also present in this view is a novelty of 200, lip 52, which is not found in 100. This novel lip allows a person to more easily remove the insert from a bottle, by providing an edge to grasp between finger and thumb. All other edges are concealed, or flush against the sides of the bottle.

[0042]FIG. 12 shows a bottom perspective view of the insert 200. This view shows another difference of 200 from the earlier embodiment 100: a large drain aperture 54 at the lower rear of insert 200, opposite of the curve 10 that provides a drinking surface for the user. This large aperture 54 provides faster draining than the smaller drain holes 8 of insert 100.

[0043]FIG. 13 illustrates a view straight down from above the insert 200. From this view, the lip 52, the enlarged drain aperture 54, the inner sidewalls 14, the inner front wall 42, and base plate 16 all are visible.

[0044]FIG. 14 illustrates the corresponding view straight up from below the insert 200. From this view, the lip 52, the enlarged drain aperture 54, the lower half of the outer walls 50, and base plate 16 all are visible.

[0045]FIG. 15 portrays the view straight on from in front of the insert 200. The recessed outer wall 20 in front of the insert is seen, along with portions of the sidewall 50, the base plate 16, and the top edge 24.

[0046]FIG. 16 illustrates the corresponding view straight on from behind the insert 200. From this view, the enlarged drain aperture 54, the outer walls 50, and base plate 16 are all visible.

[0047]FIG. 17, the final drawing, displays the insert 200 from a right side view. The clear slant of base plate 16 is visible, slanting downward from the front drinking surface to the drain aperture 54.

[0048] In the above illustrated and described ways the insert of the present novel invention can be used to help an individual to comfortably drink out of a wide mouth bottle without the discomfort of having liquid overflow around the user's mouth to unwanted locations.

[0049] While the invention has been described in connection with a plurality of preferred embodiments, it is not intended to limit the scope of the invention to any particular form set forth, but on the contrary, it is intended to cover such alternatives, modifications, and equivalents as may be included within the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims. 

What is claimed is:
 1. Bottle Insert comprising: An insert that resides inside the uppermost portion of a wide mouth bottle; Said insert being circular in shape and having sidewalls and an integral base portion; Said base portion rising in one or more locations to a flat plane located near the top of said circular shape and extending approximately one third of the diameter distance into said circular shape; Said raised flat portion having a cut out area for the purpose of drinking; Said cut out area following the inner diameter of said circular shape at one edge and following the contour of the rest of the raised portion of said flat area. 2 Bottle Insert as claimed in claim 1 wherein said a pair of said flat, cut out portions oppose each other, one said cutout being sized for a child's mouth and the other being sized for an adult's mouth. 3 Bottle Insert as claimed in claim 1 wherein said insert is constructed of injection molded, food grade plastic. 4 Bottle Insert as claimed in claim 1 wherein said lower base portion has a plurality of drain holes. 5 Bottle Insert as claimed in claim 1 wherein said insert fits closely within the neck of a bottle, such that liquid will not pass between the neck and the insert except via said cut out areas. 6 Bottle Insert as claimed in claim 1 wherein said insert comprises only one cutaway portion for drinking, and further comprises a lip at the top of said insert opposite said cutaway portion. 7 Bottle Insert as claimed in claim 1 wherein said insert comprises only one cutaway portion for drinking, and further comprises an enlarged drain aperture opposite said cutaway portion. 8 Bottle Insert as claimed in claim 7 wherein said insert comprises a base which slopes downward toward said drain aperture. 